First Pakistani astronaut to undertake space mission from China on Nov 25: Ahsan Iqbal

Pakistan's first astronaut, Ahsan Iqbal, is set to embark on a space mission from a Chinese space center on November 25, according to Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal's announcement made during the World Space Week concluding ceremony in Narowal. This event was jointly organized by the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) and the Planning Ministry.

Iqbal expressed hope that Pakistan's collaboration with China would propel the nation to new heights in space exploration. Speaking at the ceremony, the minister emphasized the significance of space technology in various sectors including agriculture, communications, climate monitoring, education, and national security. He further stressed that scientific research and space exploration are crucial for technological advancement.

Iqbal also highlighted that Muslim scholars had once made substantial contributions to astronomy and scientific discovery, calling for renewed efforts to restore Pakistan's leadership in knowledge and research. The astronaut will be among the two pilots, Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, who were selected by China in April this year and are currently undergoing intensive training in Beijing.

The identities of the two astronauts will be revealed by China, but sources suggest a final decision is expected in mid-to-late October. According to Suparco, the chosen pilot will assume the role of a "payload specialist" during the mission, meaning their duties will primarily involve conducting Pakistan's scientific experiments in orbit rather than piloting the spacecraft.

The astronaut will be launched aboard a Chinese-built spacecraft from a Chinese launch site. They will communicate with the mission control center using Mandarin as the primary language.